The next two rounds weren't as eventful as I thought, nor was it thrilling enough to match the intensity of the one against Geoffrey. They were a haughty bunch, declaring their royal lineage and spectacular wealth that only those up there could ever dream of having, even imagine. They made sure to tell them how impossible it was to achieve such a feat while they groveled in the dirt. Though they flourished and bathed in the praises of the spectators with an ecstatic face, they happily sneered them when some of the 'lower class' tried to approach him. They were denied miserably and turned away without so much as another word, yet they foolishly praised them for some reason.

Well, that was enough to fill my fury and satisfaction for when I defeated them and tarnished their fame and ardor to the ground like dust. It was a petty reason for doing so, but something in me just couldn't help but put a stop to such nonsense. I always though from those books I read that royalty were people who helped and loved the people. They were forthright and just, defeating the enemy of innocent and in the end, emerging happily ever after with a princess to forever spend their lives with peace. It seems my childhood illusions stayed an illusion at that time. I wouldn't normally sneer them myself, but the impish child in me instinctively did so without hesitation.

They cried of course, asking for forgiveness or even warning me that if I were to inflict so much as even a scratch on them their families would smite mine into oblivion. Flaunting their authority forced their guards to charge in the arena when I forced them to submit, saving their pitiful master before I could do anything else other than to intimidate him with a single step of my boot.

Of course, to the people I was the clear victor, there was no doubt about that. But I felt disappointed that I could not have done a bit more. Nothing serious and malicious. Their skills were sub-par, even nonexistent when they fought. It only took one swing of my sword to send theirs flying. And without anything to threaten their opponents with, they yielded to me with a vengeful frown.

We went back to the inn; the festivities having died down to a manageable degree to which we can easily hear ourselves and our thoughts. Gino looked satisfied with the results while Daphne, or Alexandre rather, remained adamant for the remainder of the day, often looking around her suspiciously like someone was out there looking at her.

Night came and we had finished our small feast consisting of chicken and meat cooked to perfection, soup and hot dishes to heat our bellies, and freshly brewed fruit juice to finish everything off. It was a luxurious afternoon despite it being a bit heavy on our purses. It was well worth it after all we've been through.

We had retreated to our separate rooms where Gino had already dozed off. I on the other hand couldn't find a reason to sleep, as if there was a reason to do so in the first place. I simply couldn't for some profound reason.

The night still hasn't finished for the city of Exaltier. There was still a small night festival happening around the square where the crowds have been said to gather. Deciding to go, I crept away from the room and gently closed the doors to avoid waking Gino. There was a mild silence downstairs where the inn was supposed to be lively at night, but it seems that everyone thought it to be a priority to join the lively night atmosphere.

There was a faint cold breeze as I walked alone. The streets were lit up by gas lamps and the lively stalls were now closed. I followed a few people talking to each other on the way to the center plaza where a night festival was being held. People danced to the sound of uplifting music being played by a band. Some cheered while some laughed gaily.

"Come here often, handsome young man? Looks like you're lost," a slender, lightly dressed mature woman came towards me with a seductive smile. "It's not good that you're spending this evening alone. Why don't you come with me? I'll make it worth your while."

I could feel and hear my heart beating fast. There was an inkling of curiosity that made me want to say yes to find out what she meant by that, but at the same time, there was nothing trustworthy I could see in her. With a great stroke of luck, however, a drunk man came swinging by, placing an arm around her and forcibly taking her hands, whisking her away to the center where they danced. She struggled but could set herself free, surprised by the strength the drunkard possessed.

Moving on from that fiasco, I tried to find what I could do amidst all this to alleviate my boredom. It was then that I noticed pairs of young men and women dancing together with the same closeness that a family would have. They danced neatly, holding each other's hands as they twirled and took light artistic steps, swaying each other to the now mellow music fit for the atmosphere, one that I found oddly uncomfortable for my own good. It had something to do with me being alone that I avoided the gazes of people by looking around me expectantly

It was then that I chanced upon Alexandre, or Daphne rather, who walked quickly without stopping. By reflex I yelled out her alias in hopes of catching her attention, but she was far that my voice couldn't reach her, but my eyes could still follow her going down the street.

What was strange was that she was being trailed by a group of cloaked figures going the same pace as her. In my suspicions, I passed through the crowd making a gap in the circle that was immediately closed off by more people going the opposite direction as I am.

I found myself going faster with each second, alarmingly losing her as she swiftly turned a corner where the group of clocked figures did the same.

"Heh, finally caught up to you. I'll admit that it took us a lot just to get to this point, and a lot of our brother's lives were wasted just for some stupid bitch," he held a special contempt for her, looking disgusted as he aggressively tightened his grip on her wrist. "You're a bastard of royalty, a princess, but... you look fine enough to serve as my personal slave. I'm sure your uncle wouldn't mind. After all, he wanted you dead, why not just make use of trash, right?" he eyed her greedily, licking his lips as his other companions laughed to themselves, wanting a piece of her, lusting for a special kind of desire.

He drew her close and smelled her sweet and fragrant aroma, tempting him as he felt her soft curves, touched smooth skin, and saw her malicious gaze. Everything she did only made them want her more.

"No one will come for you, not even that traitorous long-haired boyfriend of yours. Gino, was it? Man, he really fooled those stupid nobles into thinking that he was faithful to the crown- " she elbowed her in the stomach staggering him. But her attempt was quickly foiled by his companions, whom gave her a single jab for them to regain control.

She desperately tried to resist the man, disgusted by his rotten stench and character, but his sheer raw strength and advantage over her made it impossible to do so. They gagged and bound her to prevent her from yelling for help nor having any chance of escape She thought of a person in her mind, one that owed her a favor. She grasped on to that promise he made to her and fervently believed that this promise could be fulfilled unreasonably even if he weren't here to hear the proposition. She repeated his name even though she knew that there was no clear possibility of him coming to her rescue.

"Now, let's go, shall we? I think it's high time that you met your uncle. Then we'll be on our own merry way- " silence. He falls to the ground with a loud thud, then followed by another. He came at them with a bottled-up fury and the speed of reckless abandon. Adrenaline seemed to fill his head at that moment that he didn't even look at her.

"Wha- who is this kid?!" they scrambled in a state of shock, astonished by the sudden attack at them. With their sheer numbers, they recovered and began to surround him. He stood in front of her as she was lying on the ground, unable to stand due to her bindings.

"I'll get you out of here, don't worry. Just leave them to me," he said impressively, standing like a statue with purpose, a back of comfort, and the voice relief. It was as if she knew another person, different from who she was seeing now.

She couldn't say anything back at him as she was overwhelmed at the amount of luck she had. Might it be contributed to chance, or to happenstance maybe, she asked herself, or was her faith in him this strong that he came here by intuition.

They brandished their blades at him, glinting at the light of the moon. He was at a clear advantage, and it was a surprise lying in wait, what he had for them, if he had anything at all.

They came at him one by one, and to his advantage, he was able to disarm and pacify his first opponent by allowing him to rush, then he evaded to the side, taking a strong grip of his wrist and bending him back. He then repeatedly kneed the cloaked man and forced his blade from his hand, giving him some assurance as he forcefully smashed the hilt of the dagger on the nape of the man's neck producing a faint gasp for air.

With difficulty, they fell one by one, but got up each time to challenge him again. It was until he found himself battered and exhausted that he saw a chance of him failing. But nevertheless he stood there, unmoving and unwavering.

It was until their leader, a man with a scar on his left eye, swiftly charged his side. He evaded but failed as the man circled him and stabbed his dagger on his left shoulder, driving its hilt further down to force him to the ground. He cried in agony as the cold blade drove further in him, searing blood.

"Zachary!" she cried, unable to do anything as he was slowly being poisoned by the viper. His face was contorted in pain, and it was obvious that he would not hold out any longer as he bled profusely.

But in an act of desperation, she dragged her body and kicked the viper's leg, forcing him down as well.

Zachary felt the weight on the hilt of the dagger disappear, that's when he stood up and pulled it in a fluid motion. He went for the other assassins and easily took them down as they were shook by surprise of his tenacity, and the fact that his face was full of intimidating rage.

"Damn," cursed the leader of the hired blades as he dragged himself up and ran through the alley, limping.

He concealed the dagger and ran in pursuit of the man, his energy quickly draining from him, but his sanity slowly returning.

It was difficult to give chase as the crowds coming from the opposite direction would bump into his shoulder. The man would also disappear from the crowds as his pace increased bit by bit.

It was until he found a dead end, panicking frantically. He snatched a nearby person donning a dark green cloak and ran into the alley way, trapping himself.

"If you know what's good for this one right here, you'll best let me go before I slit her throat," he threatened him.

He noticed that the person he was holding hostage was panicking, trying to get away from him but could not. She didn't look to be that much older than him. They looked to be the same age, but a bit shorter than him. Tears fell from her cheeks, but he reassured her that everything would be alright.

"Fine, let her down and leave. Don't even think of going back for her. I'll hunt you down no matter what it takes until you regret trying again," he said, taking a step towards him until they were a few meters from each other.

He abruptly dropped her and charged at him furiously with his dagger. "Don't get too cocky, kid!" he roared.

He evaded and managed to slice his arm, fulfilling the phrase of an eye for an eye.

The man, however, continued his momentum and ran further. I'll come back for you, kid. Don't forget! You're added to the list of dead men I'll be coming for!" he finally disappeared.

With a ragged breath, he came close to the person the man took as a victim. "Are you alright?" he asked her, kneeling to level her face. It revealed a lovely and gentle face of compassion and humility. Her eyes, instead of looking mortified of what had happened, looked at him with concern.

"I-I am alright," she said pleasantly. "But, you, are you alright?" she said in panic, placing her arm over his unwounded shoulder. "You are bleeding! What should I do? No, no, don't panic," she held herself together. "Wait here, I will do something, so please, stay strong for a bit longer. I won't let you go after you've saved me. I'm indebted to you. I will do all I can in my power to save you," she reassured him.

He fell to the ground slowly until he was lying flat on the stone street. He wanted to rest, but it didn't feel like the end for him just yet. He was proud of himself, however, that he was able to accomplish something by himself. But better yet, he managed to save Daphne, and possibly earn her favor which he squandered by accident.

It doesn't stop there, however. Before his eyes could close, there was an angelic face that looked over him with clear concern. She spoke about how she would not let him go, and how she would do her best to save him. It didn't matter anymore. She was simply lovely and beautiful that he was charmed at first sight. He could not conceal his smile.

"Where am I?" I woke up abruptly with a searing pain on my shoulder and sides. But the sight around me wasn't familiar. It didn't look like the inn at all. It was grand, white, pure, and clean. The furnishings were ornate and beautiful; the designs were pure and straightforward. It was as if I was cleansed jsut by being here.

I lay in bed with sheets over me, feeling as soft as the clouds. It was luxurious, nothing I've ever felt before.

But I realized that my body was bandaged, and all that was left was my leggings.

Recalling was happened last night was difficult, but not impossible. In the meantime, it was all a haze. Vaguely I could recall me being stabbed in the shoulder by a dagger.

A beam of light passing through the window reminded me that it was morning. But my prior question wasn't answered at all for there was no one there to answer it in the first place.

As I stood up, there was a knock on the door, followed by the entrance of an orderly youthful woman wearing glasses. Her hair was of a straight chestnut color flowing along till her back. She wore proper and somehow formal clothes that restricted her tempting proportions and curves. carrying what seemed to be a book and small stack of papers in one of her arms.

"Ah, thank goodness, you're awake. I would like to introduce myself," she bowed casually but in a friendly manner. "My name is Sofiya Matten. I am the royal steward and caretaker of the princess Lorelei of Ylithia. I am very happy to meet the savior of our princess. If it were not for you, she would have been wounded mortally, or worse, lost," she said sadly as if scolding herself.

She came up and seized my hands, shaking it with a warm smile. "It is through my own recklessness that she was lost. I-I should have never allowed her to go outside, but she insisted, and I could not just resist her. I had lost her when we arrived at the night festival, and there I desperately searched for her. Thank you on behalf of myself and the kingdom, I just wanted to thank you for keeping her safe. My clumsiness and unfirm stance got the best of me again."

I looked away as she came close enough to temp me, but I managed to reply with a 'you're welcome' before things got too out of hand. There's another first for me.

"I know that she would want to meet you, so why don't you come and see her? I will escort you. Right now, she should be finished eating with the king and queen and is now in her studies. I'm sure that they would want to meet you as well. After all, she has kept watch over you during that night, and took care of you by wiping your wounds away."

I follow her through the halls. This was when I started to sift through my thoughts. Royalty? the princess? Just what have I gotten myself into? I don't think I remember saving royalty in the first place. Might as well hold back till I can get some answers.

The halls were guided with a velvet carpet, and beside were table stands where ceramic vases and flowers with a pleasant smell and image. The windows, that revealed the outside of the city which seemed larged from this view, were large enough to almost reach the clean white ceilings. Guards could be seen walking in an orderly pace, and some would be seen standing firmly with their weapons close by. elegant and prim people wearing frilled dresses and aprons, suits and ties, could be seen keeping the area tidy. wooden doors were often on each corridor, and it seemed that the halls could go on forever.

"The thing is, the king and queen don't know about my blunder," she said in a guilty, soft, hushed voice. "I urged her to tell the truth to them, but she insisted that I keep it a secret since she'll make sure nothing like that will happen again. If they knew, I might be executed, or imprisoned. But she doesn't want to tell since she treats me like a friend she had growing up from birth until now. It's quite disheartening, really. I've done something that almost cost her life, but she isn't angry about it. Don't you think that's wrong?" she glanced at me, awaiting an answer.

"What's so wrong about that? It sounds reckless, and I probably don't know what I'm talking about, but what's wrong with not standing up for someone that you know and have been with for so long. I think it's natural."

She heaves a content but wan sigh and continues walking. "Thank you. I know you're just being kind, but thank you nonetheless," she murmurs, not to hide it from me it seems.

I was lead to a lonely, wide, and spacious room where the light shone upon the archaic designs of the past and present. Parchment, weathered, and desired pieces of paper that holds the treasure of knowledge hidden behind its cover and pages. Clean wooden shelves upon shelves towered and were arranged neatly, carrying a plentiful but seemingly infinite amount of books.

The scent of dust and weathered paper filled my nose as my eyes darted from left to right. It was immense, and it felt like I could get lost in such a chamber filled with hundreds of words. Its classic elements and elegance was not equal of what was outside, like it was of another time, but it had its own charm that made it special and separate from what was beyond the doors behind me.

We went further in, ascending a few flights of stairs that led up to even more shelves stacked with books. But, almost instantly my sights were brought to not the lengthy clear glass window where light passed through like a beam, but what the beam illuminated. There was a table close to it, and an angelic figure, who wore a simple faint pink dress all the way till her ankles, elegantly and silently sat on a chair, softly changing the pages with her delicate fingers in a graceful manner, as if every small detailed move she made was already ingrained into her, and made natural with the passing of time.

She closed her book and stood up, making no sound. She smiled warmly at me and came a few inches until she bowed elegantly, taking the hem of her skirt with her thumb and index finger.

"I am very glad to see that you are awake. I hope that you were comfortable while you slept, you had quite the wounds last night. My name is Lorelei; I am very pleased to make your acquaintance. Could you grant me the pleasure of knowing your name?" she asked sincerely, not giving me much of a choice, not like I wouldn't have given it anyway.

"Zachary, nice to meet you too. Thanks for, this," I gesture to the bandages covering my wounds. "I can't really remember what happened last night clearly. I was hoping someone could explain where I am and what's going on."

Thus, they began explaining the happenstance that then allowed my memory to recover. It all felt like a thrill remembering it now, and how unbelievable it might seem, it all happened.

"So that's how it went down, huh? Thank you. I guess I owe you more than you do me."

"Please, don't think of it too much. I was grateful for you for saving me. I don't think this alone would be enough to repay you. Tell me, what is it that you want?"

"I don't think I have something to want. It's fine, really. I wasn't doing it for anything."

"Is that so? My, how modest. Very well, how about we get something for you to eat? You must be starving after all that. Please, come, we shall see what the kitchen has to offer. I may be able to serve you something. I think that can compensate," she smiles lovingly and pulled me by the hand gently with her soft delicate one as to not agitate my wound, leading me gently down the stairs and out of the library. I looking back I saw Sofiya smile brightly as she waved us a brief farewell.

But as I depart with her without protest, I can't help but remember something that I had forgotten. It seemed important, but what it was I can't exactly fathom.